Monday 9th June

Good morning everyone, I hope you’ve had a lovely weekend.

I slept well, fast asleep before 10pm, woke up before 5am, feeling a little tired, muscles seem ok, just a tad weak, chemo brain feels better. No time for stretches, breakfast, shower, load my backpack with water and a snack. Backpack and pee sample put into the car and on my way to the hospital.

Journey time was just over an hour, traffic was usual for that time of the morning, found parking just outside of the hospital which was a bonus. I’ve had a call from the hospital already telling me what I need to do once I get there. Bone marrow biopsy first, then down to bloods for research blood tests then ecg. Yep, all go. First appointment is at 10am.

I’ve checked in now the wait to be called. Feels funny walking around the hospital with 3.5 litres of pee 😂😂😂.

Obs done - weight, bp, height. Pee has been handed over, I’m back in the waiting area to be called again. I was thinking I got away with the pee container…well I did but now I’ve been given two empty ones for when the trial starts. The pee had the last laugh!!!

Bloods done, only 12 tubes!!! Nearly ran out of blood!!

Bone marrow biopsy done, 12 slides and 3 samples of bone!!! Yes it was painful!!

ECG done. I have no idea how many chest hairs were removed when the tape was ripped off!!

Now I’m just waiting for confirmation that all is okay.

The nurse has confirmed that everything is fine and I can go home. I’ll have a quick rest in the cafe area on the ground floor, eat a banana, drink some water and I’ll be on my way home.

Journey home was an hour. As the anesthetic is wearing off on my hip, the prodding feeling is back, not much pain, only discomfort, my arm feels tired so it’s going to be rest for the afternoon or until I feel good.

The trial I hope to start is open to only 20 patients in the UK and I’m patient number 6 from the hospital. All of my results will be sent to Switzerland where the head office for the trial is and they are the ones who will have the final decision whether I’m eligible.

A nice relaxing evening, the wound is throbbing but bearable, arm feels better. I’m tired, early morning and a very hectic morning all added to my tiredness. Muscles feel better, still lacking energy and chemo brain is slowly getting better. I’m glad I rested, I was tempted to do things but I know I wouldn’t have lasted long as I did feel weak this evening.

Time for much needed sleep.

Good night all, sleep well.

❤️🙏🏽

Tuesday 10th June

Good morning everyone, I hope you’re well.

I slept well, woke up feeling exhausted, could have done with a few more hours of sleep. Muscles also tired and chemo brain is present. Dr N says this is the after effects of the blood they took.

Breakfast eaten, stretches are on the maybe list because of the bone marrow biopsy wound, it’s still uncomfortable and I don’t want to make it worse.

A couple of chores to do this morning, the weather can’t make up its mind, even had rain so I drove rather than walking anywhere.

Had a trip to my GP today to get a referral to a dermatologist because I seem to be developing small dry skin patches on my face and head, nothing to worry about but just want to get it checked out by the experts.

While watching tv, we both fell asleep, shows how tired we were, a nice nap. The evening has been restful, always good to recharge our batteries.

A beautiful view of the strawberry moon tonight.

Time for bed.

Good night all, sleep well.

❤️🙏🏽

Wednesday 11th June

Good afternoon everyone, I hope your week is going well.

I slept well, woke up a little tired, muscles also the same, chemo brain feels less. Still not doing stretches because of the wound, I should be ok tomorrow. Breakfast, shower then a few chores to do.

Returned home and I’m feeling tired. I have to slowly start building up my strength, it’ll take time and I know I’ll get there. I’m glad I was strict with my diet through chemo because it’s so easy to start eating anything and everything, your weight would just increase like crazy. I am feeling good and will feel better once my strength is back.

A nice relaxing evening, no idea where the tiredness came from, I suspect from Monday and all the fighting from within my body. I’m feeling good, positive and raring to get back to exercise.

Time for bed and a good refreshing sleep.

Good night all, sleep well.

❤️🙏🏽

Thursday 12th June

Good afternoon everyone, I hope you’re well.

I slept well, I need to fall asleep before 11pm but it’s proving hard to do. Full stretches, hip was a little painful but manageable, breakfast, shower and today we went to play table tennis for an hour. We played 5 games and I lost all 5 games to Dr N, yep, a total hammering!!! Let her rejoice while she can!! 😜. I’ll be good enough to give her a proper game in the near future.

Got some work done this afternoon and then just rested. My energy levels are increasing, and I’ve also slightly adjusted my diet by increasing my carb intake.

This evening I’m feeling less tired, muscles are starting to feel better but chemo brain is a bit slow at going away. Generally I’m feeling good.

Time for bed, I have to get up early and have breakfast before 7am as I have to fast for 6 hours before my PET scan tomorrow.

Good night all, sleep well.

❤️🙏🏽

Friday 13th June

Good morning everyone, I hope you’re ready for the weekend. I slept well, could have done with a few more hours of sleep. Woke up around 6.30am, breakfast before 7am and now no food only water until after my scan. I’m feeling tired as are my muscles which I know will get better with more rest. After breakfast, full stretches then shower. We don’t leave until around 11am, finding parking may be an issue at the hospital.

We departed earlier than planned, on the journey in I had a call from the hospital scan department asking if I could get there earlier, I said yes I’m half way there!! It took us about an hour to get in, no parking on the hospital grounds but managed to find street parking next to the cancer hospital, just a short walk away.

As soon as I checked into the Nuclear department, I was given a questionnaire to complete, as I started I was called up by the nurse, we were shown to a bay in the scanning department, he completed the questionnaire for us which was a bonus. He needed 2 attempts to insert a cannula and find blood, this was where he would push the radioactive medicine into me. Dr N has to go away when this happened. Once injected, I had to wait for an hour for it to work its way around my body, I nearly fell asleep!! I was eventually called up, they gave me a gown so trousers off, gown on and onto the machine I lied down. He wrapped me up, taped my feet together and started the scan, the whole process took only 10 minutes. I was free to go, I could eat and drink as usual but shouldn’t be near pregnant women or kids under 4 as I’m radioactive. Off we go to have lunch!!

We had a lovely lunch at…take a look at the photo, if you know you know. Food was delicious!!!

We had a short walk and headed home, so hot today. Journey home was just over an hour, traffic was starting to build up. Glad to be home, I’m beginning to get tired.

It’s been a busy week, all tests for the trial are now complete, bone marrow biopsy, ECG, blood tests and a full body PET CT scan. I’m glad they’re all done, now a few days before my appointment with the consultant and a few weeks without any tests or treatments, a nice treatment holiday.

A lovely end to a hectic week for us both, now it’s time to relax for the rest of the day.

This evening I’m feeling tired, that’s an accumulation of the whole week, muscles are feeling tired but much better, chemo brain is still hanging around, I do hope it clears soon. Overall I’m feeling much better and making progress.

Time for bed, I feel relaxed so a good sleep will follow.

Good night all, sleep well.

❤️🙏🏽

Saturday 14th June

Good afternoon everyone, I hope your weekend has started well.

I didn’t sleep too well, tossing and turning all night, I blame the masala chai which wasn’t decaf!! I do feel tired, muscles also tired, chemo brain is hovering. No strength for stretches, mind really wanted to do them but body said no. Breakfast, haircut and shower.

A sunny day joined with a strong breeze and lots of cloud, in the sun it was lovely.

Today we had lunch with Dr N’s parents, I’m making the most of the good weather to sit outside. It was a nice afternoon.

Now home and I’m feeling exhausted, I want to sleep but too tired to sleep. My body feels tired and the tiredness isn’t helping chemo brain.

Time for bed and just a good nights sleep.

Good night all, sleep well.

Sunday 15th June

Good afternoon everyone, I hope you’re well.

I slept well, even managed an extra hour, woke up still feeling a little tired, muscles the same and chemo brain is still around. Breakfast then I pushed myself to do stretches, although I’m feeling tired I think I need to push myself to see if that kicks me out of feeling tired, can only try.

Well, my legs have felt heavy and achy a day so I decided to rest, we did a walk around the block which is a mile, that went well.

I’m a bit frustrated about how I’m feeling, I really thought I would be feeling better and with more energy but that hasn’t yep happened. I know I need to be patient and it must be a mix of the chemo, all of the tests and the radioactive drug all in my system, I just need to calm down and just go with the flow.

It’s been a slow day, a restful day, this evening I’m feeling a little tired, muscles feel a little weak, legs still heavy and chemo brain is still here, my head feels cloudy.

So, chemo has finished, all tests for the trial eligibility have finished and now I have to wait for their decision. Depending on which treatment I get on remission, there may be more tests to see my progress.

Early night, I just want to sleep early, I think it will help with how I’ll feel in the morning.

Good night all, sleep well.

❤️🙏🏽

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